US10887468B2 - VoIP adapter for connecting landline phones to IP routers - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods for adapting traditional landline telephones to make and receive Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls and other communications are described. In some embodiments, an adapter, adaptor, or other device or apparatus connects an IP router, such as a WiFi router or other access point, to a traditional landline telephone (e.g., a phone using dual-tone multi-frequency, or DTMF, signaling), enabling the traditional landline phone to make and/or receive VoIP calls.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/269,840 filed Sep. 19, 2016, entitled VOIP ADAPTER FOR CONNECTING LANDLINE PHONES TO IP ROUTERS; which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/319,204, filed on Apr. 6, 2016, entitled VOIP ADAPTER FOR CONNECTING LANDLINE PHONES TO IP ROUTERS, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Conventional Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems facilitate the delivery of voice communications and/or multimedia sessions over IP networks, such as the Internet. For example, a conventional VoIP service may provide a user with basic communication services over the Internet, such as voice calls. However, conventional VoIP services are provided without knowledge of a user's location and suffer from various drawbacks as a result. For example, a conventional VoIP service may not provide reliable emergency (E911) services, among other limitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates aspects of a suitable network environment that facilitates VoIP-based communications between landline telephones and IP-based networks, such as IP Multimedia System (IMS) networks.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of a system for providing VoIP communications to a landline phone.

FIGS. 3A-3B are diagrams illustrating various VoIP adapter configurations.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example computing environment that facilitates VoIP communications between a landline phone and an IP Multimedia System (IMS) network.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing E911 services to a user of a landline phone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods for adapting traditional landline telephones to make and receive Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls and other communications are described. In some embodiments, an adapter, adaptor, or other device or apparatus connects an IP router, such as a WiFi router or other access point, to a traditional landline telephone (e.g., a phone using dual-tone multi-frequency, or DTMF, signaling), enabling the traditional landline phone to make and/or receive VoIP calls.

In some embodiments, the adapter includes a system contained within the adapter for providing voice over internet protocol (VoIP) communication services to a publically-switched telephone network (PSTN) phone, or landline phone, connected to the adapter. The system may include a network communications module that manages communications between the adapter and an IP multimedia system (IMS) network, a phone communications module that translates communications between the connected PSTN phone and the adapter, and/or a subscriber module that facilitates remote management services at the adapter by a telecommunications carrier that provides the IMS network and that includes a user of the adapter as a subscriber of the IMS network.

For example, the adapter may include an RJ-11 connection component, a wireless connection component (e.g., Ethernet and/or universal serial bus (USB) connector that connects the apparatus to an access point associated with the IMS network, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, and an IMS module configured to manage communications between a landline telephone connected to the apparatus via the RJ-11 connection component and the IMS network.

Such an adapter may provide users of traditional landline phones with various services advanced services previously unavailable from VoIP service providers. For example, the adapter described herein facilitates the integration of remote management services with users that access VoIP services via landline phones, enables the use of E911 protocols by users that access VoIP services via landline phones, and/or supports the provision of rich communication services (RCS) between an accessed IMS network and landline phone users, among other benefits.

The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding of, and enabling description for, various embodiments of the technology. One skilled in the art will understand that the technology may be practiced without these details. In some instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments of the technology. It is intended that the terminology used in the description presented below be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain embodiments of the technology. Although certain terms may be emphasized below, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this Detailed Description section.

Example Network Configurations

FIG. 1 illustrates aspects of asample network environment100 that enables VoIP-based communications between a PSTN landline phone (a phone that employs DTMF signaling)110, and an IP Multimedia System (IMS)network130. Thenetwork environment100 includes at least onewireless access point122. Theaccess point122 may be public or private, and may be located, for example, in a subscriber's residence (e.g., home, apartment or other residence), in a public location (e.g., coffee shops, retail stores, libraries, or schools) or in corporate or other private locations.

Acommunications adapter120, which may include a subscriber identity module (SIM)135 (e.g., a SIM card), connects thelandline phone110 to theaccess point122, which provides access to theIMS network130 overvarious communication networks125, such as wireless networks (Wi-Fi). The IMSnetwork130 may be provided by a telecommunications carrier, which may include asubscriber management system140, that acts to manage services and operations provided to subscribers of the IMSnetwork130. For example, thesubscriber management system140 may communicate with theSIM card135 of theadapter120 to facilitate providing remote management services to theadapter120, among other things.

Theaccess point122 may employ any type of wireless protocol, including wireless local, wide, and metropolitan area network (WLAN, WWAN, WMAN, respectively) access protocols. For example, wireless protocols can include IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20 Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), 802.11 wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth standards, or other similar standards. Theaccess point122, therefore, may include a wireless router and a broadband modem that enable connection to the Internet Protocol (IP)network125, which may be one or more public networks, private networks, or combinations of public and private networks.

Furthermore, thecommunications network125 may be interfaced with other networks, such as theIMS network130 via various access gateway servers, such as a Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) for General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a Packet Data Gateway (PDG) for WiFi, Systems Architecture Evolution Gateway (SAE-GW), a Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN-GW) for 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), and so on.

To ease the integration of the IMSnetwork130 with Internet resources, various specifications (e.g., 3GPP specifications) use Internet Engineering Task Force protocols within the IMSnetwork130. An example of one such protocol is session initiation protocol (SIP). SIP is a signaling protocol used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party or multiparty sessions consisting of one or several media streams. Endpoints register with theIMS network130 in order to use IMS services.

TheIMS network130 includes a Call Session Control Function (CSCF), which provides various SIP servers or proxies for processing signaling packets, performing communication session controls, hosting and executing services, and so on. For example, theIMS network130 includes a Proxy-CSCF (P-CSCF), which acts a first contact point orgateway135 for communications from theadapter120 via theaccess point122, a Serving-CSCF, which performs session controls as the central node of the signaling plane of the IMS network, multiple application servers that provide application services, media servers, charging systems, and so on.

The communications adapter120, on behalf of the landline phone, may act as an endpoint, and register its IP address with a SIP registrar server within the IMS network130 (e.g., by generating and sending a SIP request message with a “REGISTER” method token). The IMSnetwork130 handles the authentication. Once registered, theadapter120 subsequently establishes multimedia sessions, such as VoIP communications, between thelandline phone110 and the IMSnetwork130.

Thecommunications adapter120, as described herein, enables a user to access VoLTE and VoWiFi applications (Voice over LTE and Voice over Wi-Fi) provided by theIMS network130 using a standard landline telephone, such asphone110. In addition, theadapter120 enables the IMSnetwork130 and telecommunications carrier providing theIMS network130 to provide various functions (e.g., E911, RMS, RCS, and so on), to users of landline telephones that access theIMS network130.

Examples of the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Adapter

The systems and methods described herein provide an adapter, such asadapter120, or other device or apparatus that connects an IP router, such as a Wi-Fi router, to a traditional landline telephone (e.g., a phone using DTMF signaling), which facilitates and enables the traditional landline phone to make and/or receive VoIP calls via theIMS network130. Theadapter120 may be, for example, a USB dongle, an RJ-45 apparatus (with micro USB), or other configurations.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of a system200, contained by theadapter120, for providing VoIP communications to a landline phone. The system, which is contained within theadapter120 and provides voice over internet protocol (VoIP) communication services to a publically-switched telephone network (PSTN) phone connected to theadapter120, may include one or more modules and/or components to perform one or more operations of theadapter120. The modules may be hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software, and may be executed by one or more processors. For example, theadapter120 may include anetwork communications module210, aphone communications module220, and asubscriber module230.

In some embodiments, thenetwork communications module210 is configured and/or programmed to manage communications between theadapter120 and the IP multimedia system (IMS)network130. For example, thenetwork communications module210 may include a session initiated protocol (SIP) client that facilitates SIP communications between theadapter120 and theIMS network130, as well as an internet protocol security (IPsec) client that provides a secure communication tunnel for the SIP communications between theadapter120 and the IMS network130 (via a secure tunnel to directly connect to an ePDG (Evolved Packet Data Gateway) in an EPC through the secure IPSec tunnel).

In some embodiments, thephone communications module220 is configured and/or programmed to translate communications between a connected PSTN phone, such asphone110, and theadapter120. For example, thephone communications module220 may include a media gateway that translates communications between thenetwork communications module210, which communicates with theIMS network130, of theadapter120 and the connectedlandline phone110.

In order to facilitate the translation of communications between the IMSnetwork130 and thelandline phone110, thephone communications module220 may include various translation clients, such as clients that translate SS7 protocol information received from thelandline phone110 connected to the adapter via an RJ-11 connection component into SIP protocol information actionable by theIMS network130, clients that translate SIP protocol information received from theIMS network130 into SS7 protocol information actionable by thelandline phone110, and so on.

For example, thephone communications module220 may receive tones input by thelandline phone110 connected to theadapter120 via an RJ-11 connection component of theadapter120, and translate the received tones into instructions to be provided to theIMS network130 via the network communications module210 (via one or more SIP clients).

Thephone communications module220, therefore, may provide and facilitate various services traditionally provided to PSTN devices, such as dial plan services, speed dial, call hold, call transfer, Call Forward Unconditional (CFU), Call Forward No Reply (CFNRy), Call Forward Busy (CFB), Call Waiting (CW), 3-Way Conference calling, Call ID number and name for outgoing calls, Calling Line Identification Presentation (CLIP) for incoming calls, and so on.

In addition, thephone communications module220 facilitates the use of star codes by the connectedlandline phone110. Example star codes and associated actions/functions include:

Description	RJ11 Dial Sequence	GSM Dial Sequence

Operator Call

N11 Services

Directory	411	411
Traffic information	511	511
Customer Care	611	611
Telecommunications	711	711
Relay Services
Emergency	911	911

Local, Long Distance, and International Calls

US Local Number	NXX-XXXX	NXX-XXXX
		switch will assume
		NPA is equal to
		subscriber's NPA
North American Long	NPA-NXX-XXXX	NPA-NXX-XXXX
Distance	1-NPA-NXX-XXXX	1-NPA-NXX-XXXX
International	011 + Country Code +	“+” + Country
	City Code + Local	Code + City
	Number	Code + Local Number

Call Forwarding Unconditional (CFU)

Activate CFU	*72DN	*21*DN#
Deactivate & Erase CFU	*73	##21#
Default Destination #	No default	No default

Call Forward No Reply Conditional (CFNRy)

Default Status	Call forwarded to	Voice Mail #
	Voicemail
Activate CFNRy	*42DN	*61*DN#
Deactivate & Erase	*93	##61#
CFNRy

Call Forward Busy Conditional (CFB)

Default Status	Call forwarded to	Voice Mail #
	Voicemail
Activate CFB	*40DN	*67*DN#
Deactivate & Erase CFB	*91	##67#

Call Waiting (CW)

Activate CW	Not applicable	*43#
Deactivate CW	*70Called Number	#43#

Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR) for Outgoing Call

Activate CLIR	*67DN	#31#DN#
Deactivate CLIR	*82DN	*31#DN#

Calling Line Identification Presentation (CLIP) for Incoming Call

Activate CLIP	*65	*30#-Does not work
Deactivate CLIP	*85	#30#-Does not work

Further, thephone communications module220 facilitates the use of various supplemental service codes, such as:

	RJ-11 Dial
Description	Sequence	GSM Dial Sequence

Supplemental Call Features

Repeat Dialing	*66	None
Cancel repeat Dialing	*86	None
Activate Call Screening	*60	None
Deactivate Call Screening	*80	None
Call Restrictions	Via UI	None
Activate Anonymous Call	*77	None
Rejection
Deactivate Anonymous Call	*87	None
Rejection
Call Transfer	*99	None
Activate Call Forward Not	*62* DN #	*62* DN #
Reachable
Deactivate Call Forward Not	##62#	##62#
Reachable
Select Caller Tune	*8863 (*TUNE)	*8863 (*TUNE)
Call Last Number	*69	None

As described herein, thephone communications module220 may cause various audible notifications to be presented to users oflandline phones110. For example, thephone communications module220 may present the following notifications:

Upon initial activation, a notification of: “Congratulations, your phone is now ready to be used,” followed by a dial tone;

When there is a missing 911 address or location (which is described in detail herein), a notification of: “We seem to be missing a 911 address for emergency purposes in your line. Please contact customer care to update your information”;

When there is no data connection detected, a notification of: “We seem to be having issues connecting to the network. Please ensure your device is properly connected to a data port and reboot your device”; and so on.

In some embodiments, thesubscriber module230 is configured and/or programmed to facilitate remote management services of theadapter120 by a telecommunications carrier that provides theIMS network130 and that includes a user of theadapter120 as a subscriber of theIMS network130. For example, the subscriber module may include or be integrated with a subscriber identity module (SIM) card that facilitates remote management of theadapter120.

The SIM card provides theadapter120 with a securely stored international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) number and related key, Therefore, a telecommunications carrier providing theIMS network130 may identify, authenticate, and/or authorize subscribers and other users that are accessing theIMS network130 for voice communications usinglandline phones110.

As described herein, theadapter120 may be designed in a variety of configurations suitable for different implementations and/or use cases.FIGS. 3A-3B are diagrams illustrating various VoIP adapter configurations.

FIG. 3A depicts anadapter300 as a stand-alone adapter that includes aSIM card slot310 for reception of a SIM card, a USB connector orport312 for providing power and/or data to theadapter300, an RJ-11 connector orport314 for connecting a landline phone to theadapter300, a LAN or Ethernet connector (e.g., RJ-45) orport316 for connecting theadapter300 to an IP router or other access point, and one or more indicator lights318 (e.g., LEDs) for providing visual displays of status and other information. Theadapter300 may also include other components, such as display screens (e.g., touch screens) other data or power connection components, and so on.

FIG. 3B depicts a simplified configuration of anadapter350, such as an adapter having a dongle or other similar configuration. Theadapter350 includes an RJ-11 connector orport360 for connecting a landline phone to theadapter350 and a USB connector orport370 configured to connect theadapter350 to a USB port of a wireless router in order to provide power and data (e.g., from the IMS network130) from the router to theadapter350.

Of course, the adapter, and various components or modules (e.g., modules210-230) may be incorporated in a variety of other configurations. For example, an IP router, such asaccess point122, may include some or all of the system described herein, in order to directly provideIMS network130 services to landline phones that connect directly to the router via a provided RJ-11 port or other similar connection mechanism.

Thus, theadapter120 may be configured to be easily implemented by a customer or subscriber. For example, to use theadapter120, the customer may plug theadapter120 into an Ethernet port of a router and into a power outlet. Once theadapter120 is provisioned on a network, the customer plugs in a home phone into an RJ-11 port of theadapter120 and listens for a dial tone. The customer places a phone call via theadapter120, and at a later time, may review a new line of service for theadapter120. A network provider may maintain call logs and call durations for the customer, which may be accessible through a customer service website, such as an interface provided by thesubscriber management system140.

As described herein, various aspects of theadapter120 enable landline phones, such asphone110, to utilize computing functions and services normally provided to IMS configured devices, such as mobile devices, laptops, and so on. Therefore, unlike conventional VoIP-enabled devices, theadapter120, via an integrated IMS stack and/or SIM card, enables a telecommunications carrier, via thesubscriber management system140, to add an additional line to a subscriber's communications plan (via the adapter120). Further, theadapter120 performs E911 services for users of landline phones, and facilitates remote management of the landline phones, as well as provisions rich communication services to users, among other things.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating anexample computing environment400 that facilitates VoIP communications between a landline phone and an IP Multimedia System (IMS) network.

Thecomputing environment400 includes one ormore application clients410, such as a session initiated protocol (SIP) client that facilitates SIP communications between theadapter120 and theIMS network130, as well as an internet protocol security (IPsec) client that provides a secure communication tunnel for the SIP communications between theadapter120 and theIMS network130. Further, theenvironment400 includes anapplication framework420, such as various controllers and/or API/scripts,various network applications425,runtime libraries430, a broad support package (BSP) anddrivers435, andhardware interfaces440, such as interfaces for a SIM reader, the USB port, and so on.

As described herein, theadapter120 provides various functions and/or configurations, including: plug and play operation, reliable remote management capabilities, compatibility with Wi-Fi routers, stand-alone operation (e.g., no additional network infrastructure or software needed for deployment), and so on.

In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein provide aVoIP adapter120 or device capable of performing some or all of the following setup and operation functions, and/or including some or all of the following capabilities or characteristics.

When theadapter120 is connected to a router during setup, a user is able to plug a cordless or landline phone into an RJ-11 port. Theadapter120 will automatically register with theIMS network130, and a dial tone is heard on the cordless phone.

When the adapter is not able to register because of a registration problem, the cordless phone may not have a dial tone and the adapter may display an indication of an error (e.g., a red LED) and/or present an audible voice notification through the auricular of the connected RJ-11 port, as described herein.

As described herein, the systems and method enable various services to be provided to users of landline phones that perform VoIP communications with theIMS network130, such as E911 services.FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating amethod500 for providing E911 services to a user of a landline phone. Themethod500 may be performed by theadapter120 and, accordingly, is described herein merely by way of reference thereto. It will be appreciated that themethod500 may be performed on any suitable hardware.

Inoperation510, theadapter120 determines that a PSTN phone is connected to a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) adapter, wherein the adapter is configured to translate communications between the PSTN phone and an IP Multimedia System (IMS) network accessed by the adapter.

Inoperation520, theadapter120 identifies an IP address for an access point (AP) via which the adapter accessed the IMS network. Inoperation530, theadapter120 determines a user of the PSTN phone is at a geographical location associated with the identified IP address or has provided an address via thesubscriber management system140.

Inoperation540, theadapter120 enables E911 communications for the PSTN phone over the IMS network via theadapter120 based on the determined geographical location for the user. In some cases, when the geographical location of the user is determined to be ambiguous or unknown, the adapter, via thephone communications module220, may notify a user of the PSTN phone that the geographical location of the user is ambiguous or unknown by causing the PSTN phone to play tones to the user that indicate the unknown geographical location, by causing the PSTN phone to play an audio sequence (as described herein) to the user that indicate the unknown geographical location, by causing the phone to display a visual indicator associated with the unknown geographical location, and so on.

Thus, in some embodiments, theadapter120 described herein enables a landline phone to function as an IMS or IP enabled device on an IMS network, among other benefits.

CONCLUSION

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling of connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.

The above detailed description of embodiments of the system is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the system to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the system are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the system, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, some network elements are described herein as performing certain functions. Those functions could be performed by other elements in the same or differing networks, which could reduce the number of network elements. Alternatively or additionally, network elements performing those functions could be replaced by two or more elements to perform portions of those functions. In addition, while processes, message/data flows, or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or subcombinations. Each of these processes, message/data flows, or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times. Further any specific numbers noted herein are only examples: alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the actual implementation of a database may take a variety of forms, and the term “database” is used herein in the generic sense to refer to any data structure that allows data to be stored and accessed, such as tables, linked lists, arrays, etc.

The teachings of the methods and system provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.

Any patents and applications and other references noted above, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the technology can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the technology.

These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description describes certain embodiments of the technology, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the technology disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the technology should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the technology with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims.

While certain aspects of the technology are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventors contemplate the various aspects of the technology in any number of claim forms. For example, while only one aspect of the invention is recited as embodied in a computer-readable medium, other aspects may likewise be embodied in a computer-readable medium. Accordingly, the inventors reserve the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the technology.

Claims (18)

What is claimed is:

1. An adapter configured to connect a publicly-switched telephone network (PSTN) phone to an IP multimedia system (IMS) network, the adapter comprising:

an RJ-45 connection component configured to connect the adapter to a router;

an RJ-11 connection component configured to connect the publicly-switched telephone network (PSTN) phone to the adapter;

a subscriber identity module (SIM) card slot to receive a SIM card;

a memory;

a subscriber line interface card (SLIC) coupled to the RJ-11 connection component; and

a system contained within the adapter and configured for providing voice over internet protocol (VoIP) communication services to the publicly-switched telephone network (PSTN) phone connected to the adapter, the system comprising:

at least one processor coupled to the RJ-11 connection component, the RJ-45 connection component, the SIM card slot, the memory, and the SLIC,

wherein the memory stores software including:

a network communications module that connects to an access point of the IP multimedia system (IMS) network and manages communications between the adapter and the IP multimedia system (IMS) network;

a phone communications module having a media gateway that translates communications between the connected PSTN phone and the adapter, including translating SS7 protocol information received from the connected PSTN phone connected to the adapter via an RJ-11 connection component into SIP protocol information actionable by the network communications module and translating SIP protocol information received from the network communications module into SS7 protocol information actionable by the connected PSTN phone; and

a subscriber module that facilitates remote management services of the adapter by a telecommunications carrier that provides the IMS network and that includes a user of the adapter as a subscriber of the IMS network.

2. The adapter ofclaim 1, wherein the network communications module includes a session initiation protocol (SIP) client that facilitates SIP communications between the adapter and the IMS network and an internet protocol security (IPsec) client that provides a secure communication tunnel for the SIP communications between the adapter and the IMS network.

3. The adapter ofclaim 1, wherein the phone communication module receives tones input by the PSTN phone connected to the adapter via the RJ-11 connection component of the adapter and translates the received tones into instructions to be provided to the IMS network via the network communications module.

4. The adapter ofclaim 1, wherein the SIM card includes the memory that facilitates remote management of the adapter, and wherein the adapter communicates with a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) acting as a first contact point with the IMS network.

5. The adapter ofclaim 1, wherein the network communications module provides rich communication services (RCS) between the connected PSTN phone and the IMS network.

6. The adapter ofclaim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to provision telecommunication service over the IMS network when the user plugs the PSTN phone into the RJ-11 connection component and receives a dial tone.

7. The adapter ofclaim 1, wherein after the user places a phone call via the adapter, the user can review a new line of service for the adapter in a service bill from the telecommunications carrier, and wherein the telecommunications carrier maintains call logs and call durations for the user that are accessible through a customer service website.

8. The adapter ofclaim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to use an IP Multimedia Services Identity Module (ISIM) for authentication to the IMS network.

9. The adapter ofclaim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to derive a home network domain name from an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), when an IP Multimedia Services Identity Module (ISIM) is not available.

10. An apparatus configured to connect a publicly-switched telephone network (PSTN) phone to an IP multimedia system (IMS) network, the apparatus comprising:

an RJ-11 connection component configured to connect a publicly-switched telephone network (PSTN) phone to the apparatus;

a USB connector configured to connect the apparatus to a USB port of a wireless router,

wherein the wireless router provides access to the IMS network;

a subscriber identity module (SIM) card slot to receive a SIM card;

a memory;

a subscriber line interface card (SLIC) coupled to the RJ-11 connection component; and

a system provided by the apparatus and configured to provide voice over internet protocol (VoIP) communication services to the publicly-switched telephone network (PSTN) phone connected to the apparatus, the system comprising:

at least one processor coupled to the RJ-11 connection component, the USB connector, the SIM card slot, the memory and the SLIC, wherein the memory stores software including:

a network communications module that connects to an access point of the IP multimedia system (IMS) network and manages communications between the apparatus and the IP multimedia system (IMS) network;

a phone communications module having a media gateway that translates communications between the connected PSTN phone and the apparatus, including translating SS7 protocol information received from the connected PSTN phone connected to the apparatus via an RJ-11 connection component into SIP protocol information actionable by the network communications module and translating SIP protocol information received from the network communications module into SS7 protocol information actionable by the connected PSTN phone; and a subscriber module that facilitates remote management services of the apparatus by a telecommunications carrier that provides the IMS network and that includes a user of the apparatus as a subscriber of the IMS network.

11. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the network communications module includes a session initiation protocol (SIP) client that facilitates SIP communications between the apparatus and the IMS network and an internet protocol security (IPsec) client that provides a secure communication tunnel for the SIP communications between the apparatus and the IMS network.

12. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the phone communications module receives tones input by the PSTN phone connected to the apparatus via the RJ-11 connection component and translates the received tones into instructions to be provided to the IMS network via the network communications module.

13. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the SIM card includes the memory that facilitates remote management of the apparatus, and wherein the apparatus communicates with a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) acting as a first contact point with the IMS network.

14. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the network communications module provides rich communication services (RCS) between the connected PSTN phone and the IMS network.

15. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the apparatus is configured to provision telecommunication service over the IMS network when the user plugs the PSTN phone into the RJ-11 connection component and receives a dial tone.

16. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein after the user places a phone call via the apparatus, the user can review a new line of service for the apparatus in a service bill from the telecommunications carrier, and wherein the telecommunications carrier maintains call logs and call durations for the user that are accessible through a customer service website.

17. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the apparatus is configured to use an IP Multimedia Services Identity Module (ISIM) for authentication to the IMS network.

18. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the apparatus is configured to derive a home network domain name from an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), when an IP Multimedia Services Identity Module (ISIM) is not available.

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